Obama and Jordanian King in sideline talks at DC summit

President Obama and Jordan’s King Abdullah met on the sidelines of the nuclear security summit in Washington, reportedly to discuss regional peace process and the matter of Iran’s nuclear development program, according to Wednesday’s Gulf News.

Together, the two heads of state pressed Israel and the Palestinians to engage in indirect peace negotiations, and President Obama continued his campaign for Iranian sanctions over the Islamic republic’s nuclear development program.

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew last week from attendance at the summit, in what analysts viewed as that nation’s reluctance to have its own nuclear program subject to international scrutiny. Netanyahu’s absence in Washington came at a price, as the Iranian nuclear threat poses a direct threat to Israeli security.